Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I decided to take the plunge and try a Heaven and Earth Design. I botched Frog Prince big time so I bought another one I've had my eye on and started it. It's coming along nicely. It takes a while to sew. They use full stitches and you can use a tent stitch (which I cannot do) or a full X. Since my supplies are limited around here, I had to buy 28 count instead of the 25 count they recommend. (I can't buy 25 count linen around here.)

So here's two days worth of work (About oh 8 hours or so) on Queens Croquet Ground by Scott Gustafson. I placed the picture next to it so you can see what it's suppose to look like when it's done. (Which given how many projects I have going should be done in about oh 20 years or so. lol) It looks allot nicer in person but isn't that how it always is with photos?

Thursday, November 19, 2009

So I finished the Delightful Dragon Fob and now have a new project. Yes, Another Teresa Wentzler.

I only started it yesterday but I think I made pretty good progress on it. It's hard because the fabric is hand dyed so the dark colors varies and it's not easy to find the holes since it's a cashel linen. I'm doing okay right now but I'm going slower then on a lighter color.

I also worked somewhat on my wedding gift for my cousin. It's a simple stitching deal but I just am not into it. Oh well, I've got till about March to get it done and framed.

Monday, November 16, 2009

I never made a scissor fob before but I love Teresa Wentzler stuff so I figured I'd try to make the one she had. It didn't turn out the greatest but you know, nothing ever turns out the best on your first try.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Okay I was going to bed and made the mistake of not collapsing the damn comments on the YouTube video on Rihanna's interview on 20/20. And now I'm all pissed off so here's a venting for me. I know this was suppose to only be on my crafts but I'm pissed and won't sleep if I don't get this out.

I am so damn fucking tired of people who say the following things:1) She deserved it for any number of various reasons. She hit him, She wouldn't let it go, She didn't shut up, She just deserved it, She must have baited him. You get the idea.2) He made a mistake, let it go.3) This is just a publicity stunt to promote her new album.

Look, even if she did hit him, did she deserve what she got? No. I'm not saying it would have been okay for her to hit him, but to be punched, bit, choked twice, almost loose consciousness and have her nose broken is clear sign he had no control. She admitted she wouldn't let go he lied to her and he wouldn't let go that she didn't let it go and was backed into the wall. But come on, you wanna look at that damn photo of her and tell me what he did was fucking okay? Because she may or may not have provoked it? Please, shut the fuck up. I don't care what your theories are. Hitting someone is NEVER FUCKING OKAY.

Secondly, yes he's young and yes he made a mistake but this was a BIG mistake and he made it in the public eye. And that public eye got him off the fucking hook. If I ever beat a guy up like he did to her, my ass would be slammed in a cell and left there to rot. And this mistake wasn't getting a speeding ticket. He almost killed her and threatened to kill her. Not once, TWICE. I don't care if you're only 19. He fucked up MAJORLY and he doesn't seem to grasp the severity of his situation. He got a slap on the wrist and walked out of court smiling. Oh yeah, he gets it. He will get it when he does kill someone and his happy ass is on trial for murder. THEN he'll get it and even then he'll get a slap on the wrist. Look at fucking OJ and tell me that celebrity doesn't help you get off the hook.

And to the last point, maybe it is a damn publicity stunt but please tell me what in there would be AT ALL objectionable. She acknowledge that she backed him into a wall and that no matter what it wasn't okay. And she did more then most celebrities do. She acknowledge that she was a role model and that by going back to Chris Brown she was showing her younger fans that it was okay to go back to an abuse and she didn't want anyone to be hurt by that. Wow, a woman who sees that she's a role model in the public eye and does what's right. She is trying to speak out against domestic abuse and tried to show young girls that it's not okay by speaking out. Seriously, this woman is just causing trouble and clearly only interested in promoting her album. Fuck people, what do you want her to do? Sit there and say "Yes I provoked him to the point where this is okay"? Domestic abuse is never okay and she had courage to get out when she did and work through what happened and tried to come to some normality.

Can I also point out that HE went on a media campaign to repair his image? Larry King, CNN, MTV, etc. Saying that he was wrong and accepted it and that he saw his mother abused and swore he'd never do it and he was sorry but he didn't mean to do it. So his media campaign is okay but her doing two interviews is a publicity stunt? Now who's setting up the double standard. You say that if she was the one who beat him this bad it wouldn't be such a big deal but when he does TV shows for months, it's okay. She does two interviews after 8 months and CLEARLY that's publicity. No that's not a fucking double standard. It's okay for him but if she does it later then she has a scandalous motive. And then he has the gaul to come out when she does her interview and state that he respects her right to say what she wants, that this should be kept a private matter. Oh sure, when you give the interviews it's okay because it's image repair. She does it and clearly it should be kept private. Jesus you people are fucking idiots.

I've never been in an abusive relationship. I can't speak as to "I know how she feels. I know what she's deal with, I've been there." I haven't. I know how incredibly lucky for being able to say that. But I also know enough that no matter what she did, that it was OKAY for this kinda abuse to happen. Yeah we all have said "Well that person clearly deserved to be hit" but no one really deserves it. Especially to this degree. And yes, if she beat him up this badly, I'd say the same damn thing. It wouldn't be okay. But don't make fucking excuses for him because he's only 19 and has "his whole life and career ahead of him." It's not excusable behavior. EVER. FOR ANYONE. CELEBRITY OR NOT. How many more times can I say that before it sinks into everyone's fucking skull and you get that?

I hate people and I'm still going to bed angry. I'll talk to everyone later. I'm out

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Please understand that I am not attacking anyone or their beliefs. With that in mind, please don't call me uninformed or too naive to understand. I love politics and I make my decisions based on what I know and I learn, not based on someone's charm and appeal.

I have noticed allot of people are upset with the proposed health care bill and honestly, for the life of me, I do not understand why.

No, I do not agree with everything in the proposed bill. I do not agree with taxing small businesses, I don't think certain things should be covered, taking benefits from Medicare and Medicaid and some other things.

However, I believe that health care shouldn't be a privilege but a basic right to the American people. So many say we are the greatest nation but we don't cover our people. I have a friend who works two jobs and has four kids, one with diabetes, and they cannot afford health care for them or their children. So what if the bill isn't prefect? Why can't both sides try to make things work so we can get something fair passed to take care of our people, instead of yelling and pointing fingers and shouting that it's all a socialist threat? It's not like 1984 and the dictatorship in the book. It's a basic human right that needs to be met.

People are yelling about how it'll bankrupt social security and that our future generations will be in large debt. Financial advisers have shown over the long haul that it will be cheaper and we won't be in huge debt like originally thought. And Social Security is already going bust because the Baby Boomers are retiring. There isn't enough being paid into social security to compensate the money having to be paid out.

Please also keep in mind that in the world, we pay the THIRD LOWEST taxes. People are yelling about how they don't want to pay for other peoples health care, but we pay for other peoples children to go to school, take care of roads we never drive on and pay for other parts of the nation that we will never use or access. I know the economy is bad, I'm not saying it isn't, but by paying a little more we are showing compassion for our fellow Americans to be able to get proper health care. Nearly 47 MILLION people are without health care. Next year the number is projected to be 60 million. Why is it so hard to help them?

50%-61% of the American public want the public option. If you don't want the government's health care then don't take it but there are people out there that need it.

Do I think the economy needs to be fixed? Yes, but I also understand that it will take longer then a year to do so. I don't know if even five years is enough. It's going to be a long and slow recovery.

I'm done now. I'm walking away and not looking at this again. I'm tired of reading so much negativity towards something that I think will benefit America over the long run and I know that it will come here.

Monday, November 2, 2009

I'm sure the following will come as no surprise to many of you. These economic times are difficult. For everyone. Businesses are certainly no exception.

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible for me to spend the time required to produce the quality needlework designs you have come to expect. Nor is it feasible any longer to keep my already-published designs in print. Effective immediately: TW Designworks is no longer offering print needlework patterns. Further: by the end of the year, TW Designworks will officially be closed.

Please know that this has been a difficult decision... wrenching in fact, but one that had to be made. I've made every effort over the last several years to keep the business viable, but to no avail. The time has come for me to say farewell to needlework design.

As far as I know, TW Designworks patterns will still be available via PatternsOnLine.com for as long as POL is willing to host/sell them. If this changes, I will let you know. Please note that this announcement does not affect designs still owned/published by Leisure Arts: those designs are still controlled by LA.

The needlework portion of the TWDesignworks.com website will remain intact for now; and I will do my best to keep the information available to stitchers for as long as possible. The Art portion of the site, however, has been closed.

The TWBB will also remain available to stitchers seeking help with my designs, and of course, I will still be available to answer questions via e-mail, or snail mail. Please note that the business phone/fax number is being disconnected and is no longer in service.

I'm not at all sure what I'll be doing next. Life has a way of being (maddeningly) unpredictable... but whatever the future has in store, I will be ready to give it my best effort.

I plan to continue blogging, so if you are interested in seeing what I'm up to (creatively), please stop by!

In closing, I want to thank each and every one of you who have supported my designing efforts through the years: distributors, shops, and especially individual stitchers. You have by turns challenged, inspired, amazed and delighted me. Thank you so much; it has been a true honor!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

I'm now convinced that between cross stitch and Halloween the universe is trying to suck money out of my pocket. Janlynn has this deal going now where if you pay for the postage for each kit, you can select these 12 kits and their yours. No having to pay for the kit and then the shipping. So I went looking and found one I've wanted forever. Well not forever but since I got back from the Islands. It's called Tropical Bell Pull. While it doesn't include the Tassel or the wooden bell pull I love the colors and the images.

Janlynn is an amazing company for their kits alone. They have another one I want. It's called Tropical Vacation Window. Of course I have allot of stuff to get through before I can really buy anything.

Then again I say that every time I buy something and then guess what, I buy more. I wonder if they have a 12 step rehab program for addicted cross stitchers. No? Oh well. At least it's not a harmful hobby. Unless they make me clean out my stash. Then I'm gonna go on a needle and scissor wielding rampage. I have allot of stuff in there I can't wait to sew and never have the time. I'll get around to all of it eventually.

I also got Spring Sampler from them. So then I've only got to get the Winter Sampler to complete the four seasons. I just cannot bring myself to do it. I have so much snow around here that sewing it makes my head hurt. I can't bring myself to buy it, no matter how pretty it is.

So, even though my Halloween decorations are still missing, we did well tonight. 68 trick or treaters. I hate when the teenagers get here. They have no costumes, don't say trick or treat (Which I won't give it to them until they do) give me nothing but attitude and then don't even say thank you. If you're 16 years old and don't like it, get a job and buy your own candy. Of course the night ended on a very strange note. The last person to come to the door was a 28-32 year old man, dressed as a polar bear and had two bags for candy. Yeah he could have been going out for his kids but there was no kids in sight. It was just this grown man in a polar bear costume. Weird.

Oh before I forget, I didn't realize that Overstock.com sold cross stitch kits. Some are overpriced and then reduced to make it look like a deal but I got one I actually have been eyeing for a while. It's from the Dimensions Gold Collection. It's called a Wreath For All Seasons. Isn't it beautiful? Dimensions Gold Collections are beautiful. I have several of them. Both the large and the petite but I haven't gotten around to finishing any of theme. Stating, sure. Finishing is the hard part. =P Maybe I have a thing for seasons? Who knows. But I did hear a rumor that since Wilton Cake Supplies bought the company they may shut down the Gold Line Collection. I can understand why to a certian degree. This particular one costs $40. I got it for around $25 and that was with shipping and a donation to this wounded solider fund but I bought at least one or two full price and they are not cheap. I got one as a gift and the rest off of eBay or clearance bins. I love them but can't afford them. Of course I have more on my wish lists at my cross stitching sites but hey, I can only do so much!

Speaking of them, did you know Overstock.com is selling coffins and Urns. Walmart seems to be getting the press for doing that but I saw the ones on Overstock before then. What is up with this? Granted I'm strange and morbid but this is just creepy, even for me. One of my friends told me I should get one and sleep in it since I'm such a Vampire freak. Weirdo.

Christmas is now only 55 days away. Can you believe it? I have almost everything taken care of. I know what I'm getting my mom and I got almost everyone else done. I'm trying to do most of my stuff online. I can't take the malls. At the moment, they are over run with stupid Twilighters and I swear if one more of them gives me a strange look because of my Fangtasia shirt I'm going to "Accidentally" bump them into the fountains. I live near a movie theater. Trust me the day New Moon comes out I am gonna hide in my house.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

So I succumbed and got another blog. Hey I went almost six months without one, give me some credit here people.

Anywho, wanted to post a finish that I can share (Most of my recent finished are holiday gifts and I can't really share those) Only one I really have now is Autumn Sampler from Janlynn. Took me forever to finish but hey I'm getting there. Got three more seasons to go. Well more like 2 1/2 since over half of Summer is done too but I digress.

Well I'm going to sign off now. I'm tired and need to get up earlier for work tomorrow. Oy. Night